Ryan Patton is beginning his fourth year as the head men's volleyball coach in 2008. He is also the women's volleyball coach at Mercyhurst.

Playing in the Midwest Intercollegiate Volleyball Association (MIVA) against major NCAA Division I programs like Ohio State, Ball State and IPFW, the Lakers have been competitive. In 2007, Mercyhurst pushed IPFW, the eventual national runner-up, to four games before losing 30-32, 30-20, 33-31, 30-21. The Lakers also played non-conference matches against Division I schools Penn State and Saint Francis (Pa.)

Prior to Mercyhurst, Patton served as assistant women's coach at Juniata College from 1995 to 2000. During that time, the Indians, now the Eagles, achieved two national runners-up and five Final Fours.

He also served as head men's coach there from 1996 to 2002. His men's teams won the Molten Division III National Championship in 1998 and made the EIVA Division III Championship from 1997-2002. Juniata won the titles in 1998 and 1999

Patton was the EIVA Division III Coach-of-the-Year in 1998 and had an overall record at Juniata of 80 and 81, including a 56-37 mark against D-II and D-II opponents. As a player, his Juniata squad won the EIVA D-III crown

The Meadville, Pa., native graduated from Juniata in 1994 with a degree in mathematics. He was a three-year letter winner for the Indians from 1992 to 1994 and was a member of the EIVA D-III All-Tournament team in 1993.

He is a member of the American Volleyball Coaches Association (AVCA) and the Pennsylvania Volleyball Coaches Association (PVCA). He's served on the AVCA men's coaches' committee for three years and has spoken at both AVCA and PVCA-sponsored clinics.

Patton received his master's in physical education (specializing in coaching) from Ball State University in December 2006.

He and his wife, Jenell, have two sons, Deke and Ike.

Patton's Record At Mercyhurst

	Overall			MIVA
Year	W	L		W	L
2005	10	14		5	11
2006	3	21		1	11
2007	2	23		0	12
Career	15	58		6	34